Al Raqis (Part Two)

Dec. 29 - Al Raqis

We were still talking about the events of Shadow when Joan Al Jofar joined us. I had met her many months ago when she was the Keeper of the Desert.

She greeted us pleasantly and inquired as to our general well being.

"I'm Joan Al Jofar," she said. "The Chief Magistrate. I don't know two of you. Tillery I see you have gotten yourself into some trouble."

"You can call me Lynx," said the boy.

"Partly in pursuit of the news, madam," explained Tillery Woodhen.

"He has lost the use of his legs," I remarked. She had not recognized me. I did not introduce myself. Regardless, it appeared my attempt at undercover work now lay in tatters.

"You've heard of the trouble on the rim, yes?" asked Tillery.

"Yes I have," replied the Magistrate, "I'm surprised that we have not gotten a flood of refugees. But flood is the wrong word for this planet."

"You're a little too distant here," he said. "The farthest they went was Hale's."

"And that's fine with me," she added. "Too many refugees looking for water handouts will break our backs here."

I addressed Mr. Woodhen, "The dry desert air will be good for your wounds."

"Well, I can't stay here too long," he said, "Too many other offices to check on."

The Magistrate continued, "I have enough trouble keeping these pathetic palm trees alive. Tillery, when I got here you were speaking about how you ended up in that chair."

Brazen Bondar joined us again. "Ah Magistrate...good evening," she said.

"Good evening Lady Bondar," said the Magistrate.

Lady Bondar bowed her head slightly towards her.

"I was in the middle of the attack on Shadow," Tillery related. "My shuttle was shot down and I received multiple bullet wounds. And humans aren't as easy to repair as ships."

Joan Al Jofar looked up in the sky. "Who wants you dead Tillery?"

"Actually," he replied. "I think I was just in the way. They wanted someone else."

Lady Bondar interrupted, "Would you be Tillery Woodhen of the news service?"

"I am," he replied.

"I've been looking for you..how funny to just bump into you," she remarked.

"I don't get to this world often," said Tillery, "But it was time to make a check on my office here. Luckily, I can still fly a shuttle."

"Yes," acknowledged Lady Bondar, "what human limbs cannot do, machines can do, so there is always a way to do what you must."

"Yes. What can I help you with?" he asked.

"I have been examining your publication," she began, "and while..it seems to report news as it comes up ...."

"You approved, I hope," he added, "We try."

"... I was wondering if you do any investigative reporting?" she finished.

"When possible," Tillery replied.

Lady Bondar hesitated to continue.

Tillery Woodhen looked around at the assembly of attentive ears. "Would you like to come into my office?" he offered.

"Investigative reporting?" probed Lynx, "Would that be objective or subjective based on the reporters views?"

Lady Bondar inclined her head. "I do not wish to appear rude. You seem to be engaged to a discussion. And I would never interrupt the Magistrate."

She smiled at Joan Al Jofar.

"Please continue," offered the Magistrate, "I'm interested in your question as well."

"Objective and subjective is always relative," began Lady Bondar.

"A reporter's job is to be objective," insisted Tillery. "To present the facts. Let the readers decide what's true."

"Merely being observant," added Lynx.

"What he is saying is that he is not a truthsayer," clarified the Magitrate.

Lady Bondar turned towards Tillery. "Yes..but even reporters are human, eh? They can be influenced as can we all."

Tillery Woodhen looked at me directly. "The truth will present itself."

"Even so," said Lynx, "There are some who will write their own views on a subject."

"That's why it's a job," replied Tillery "We work to put our own views aside."

Lynx agreed.

Brazen Bondar nodded and added, "...and every one must start with some facts."

"Exactly," said Tillery emphatically.

Lady Bondar, however, was not finished. "For example, Mr. Woodhen...you yourself were injured in the Shadow bombing or I take it from your comments."

"I wasn't injured by the bombs themselves," explained Tillery.

"But you were caught up in the aftermath," inquired the Magistrate.

"I was shot down by a fighter then caught in the middle of a gun battle."

"Yes..I understand but by the damage," said Lady Bondar.

"Yes," he replied.

"Otherwise known as Collateral damage," Lynx added helpfully.

"Ah...a fighter?" asked Lady Bondar.

"Yes," replied Tillery, "My flight computer warned that I was being targeted."

"Targeted?" I interrupted. A civilian vessel targeted?

"That sounds like a fighter of some sort," said Lynx.

"As in the fighter knew it was you?" inquired Lady Bondar.

"Yes," said Tillery, "Well, not that they knew it was me. More like they were trying to make sure they got everything."

"Or preventing you from informing the 'verse," suggested Lynx.

Lady Bondar drove her point home. "And tell Mr. Woodhen...would you be able to investigate that matter objectively?"

Tillery Woodhen hesitated, puffing on his cigar.

"As it seems your injuries may be of a permanent nature." she finished, nodding towards the wheelchair.

"That does color my own perspective, yes," replied Tillery Woodhen,"But then I do have other writers. Ones who don't have the same perspective I do."

Lady Bondar nodded. "At least your answer is honest. That is a beginning."

She then turned towards me, "You have a familiar look to you. Whose company do I have the pleasure of sharing?"

There was no point to keeping things hidden any longer. And certainly no point in outright deception, especially in front of the Magistrate.

"We have met before on MacLaren's Drift," I said.

The Magistrate looked in my direction. "I was wondering that myself. I like to know who visits my settlement."

Lady Bondar still could not place me. "There is often confusion on those moons. When did I meet you?"

"And I have met you too Madam Magistrate," I added, "When I paid the water debt I owed you."

Tillery Woodhen watched me, an inscrutable look on his face.

I removed my goggles and my breather mask.

Lady Bondar looked at the Magistrate.

"Water debt?" asked Lynx.

Tillery explained, "Water is more valuable than gold here."

"I am Major Siamendes," I said plainly.

Joan Al Jofar's eyes widened "Yes. I remember you now. That was before my Chief magistrate posting here in Al Raqis."

"A water debt?" asked Brazen, "Your offense must have been great."

"No it was not," explained the Magistrate, "But in the Deep Desert not repaying a water debt is an offense."

"I pay my debts as the Magistrate will attest," I stated.

"You repaid your debt yes," she confirmed.

I bowed my head to the Magistrate. She smiled in return.

Brazen Bondar chewed the inside of her cheek as she tried to place me.

"It has been quite a while," added the Magistrate, "Another lifetime it seems."

"Indeed, Keeper," I replied.

Meanwhile Tillery Woodhen, struggling with his rage, forced his hands to relax again.

Lady Bondar looked at me."Your clothing is wrong," she said suddenly.

"Not for the desert," I said.

"No. Wrong for you," Tillery corrected.

"No, not for the weather," said Brazen, shaking her head.

"It would be the height of foolishness to walk in the desert any other way," I continued. "The sand has taught me that." That was the truth.

Lady Bondar narrowed her eyes slightly, "A uniform..it is a uniform you normally wear.

I nodded. "Yes, you remember now."

She nodded, the memory coming into place. "You came to arrest Sentry I believe.'

"I arrested him yes... he killed a man."

Tillery looked away, face hard. In the wake of what he had experienced on Shadow, this was striking too close to home.

Brazen Bondar shrugged. "In these times...we have all done something someone will call a crime."

Lynx looked around suddenly, trying to look innocent.

"Taking a life is not stealing cheese," I said.

"I tell you Magistrate," declared Lady Bondar. "Those moons of the rim are very chaotic."

"Tell me you didn't know," muttered Tillery.

Lady Bondar turned towards me. "Taking a life is taking a life. Sometimes it is good and sometimes it isn't."

Tillery Woodhen looked at me with eyes blazing.

"Or if it's a Reaver," suggested Lynx.

"It's never good," I said.

"I beg to differ," countered Brazen.

The Magistrate looked at Lady Bondar. "You need to remember that you are not currently on any of those moons."

Lady Bondar continued, "If a man tries to kill me..I will kill him to defend myself. This the law allows."

"Yes," I agreed "It allows that. But at the same time you have robbed a mother of her son."

Lady Bondar replied first to the Magistrate. "Yes I do realize that. It is why I came here Magistrate. To escape chaos" She then turned back to me."Yes the mother has lost a son. This is a moment of sadness for her but not a crime."

"And let's keep it that way. All of you." cautioned the Magistrate.

"I don't have a need to kill," said Lynx. "While they might lose a hand, they will live."

"It won't be ME who brings it here," declared Tillery.

"I respect and obey the law Magistrate," said Lady Bondar. She then chuckled. "You see Mr. Woodhen.. even if the matter of killings there is a difference in objective and subjective."

"I appreciate that. And do you?" Looking at the newcomers.

Tillery Woodhen just kept staring at me. His anger was tangible.

"As I said," said Lynx "I don't kill. I don't like the idea of killing."

It was time for me to state my position.

"Among my people, I work to uphold the law," I said, "and to stop those who would defile her."

Lady Bondar inclined her head slightly "You are not among your people here."

Tillery muttered something under his breath.

Lynx replied to her point. "As you said, Miss, neither are you or I."

"Do you expect me to break the law here?" I asked her.

Lady Bondar turned to Lynx "In this regard you are incorrect. Al-Raqis is my home now," she said.

"Yes, now," he argued "But before, your home was elsewhere. Now it's the Major's home here as well."

Oh, wonderful, I thought... Thank you very much, Lynx.

Lady Bondar raised her eyebrows. "You have given up your position with the Alliance then?"

"No," I replied. "I dwell in the desert when I am here."

"Why is it that elders don't get the details of everything," Lynx asked rhetorically.

"Mmm..then it is Lady Soyinka that must worry about you," remarked Lady Bondar, "I am sure she is most capable in that regard."

She turned to Tillery. "Mr. Woodhen..perhaps I can speak to you for a moment? My warehouse is around the corner."

"Yes," he replied, "In my office."

"Fine, we can go there." she acquiesced.

"Do you have a preference?" he asked.

"I actually would prefer going to my facility," she replied, "The warehouse has a ramp."

"I will take me leave as well," said the Magistrate "It was nice meeting all of you...again."

"It was nice meeting you Madam Magistrate," chirped Lynx.

"Good night Magistrate," said Lady Bondar.

I nodded to her as she wished us all a good night

Tillery glared at me but said nothing.

"I am right this way Mr. Woodhen," said Lady Bondar.

He turned away and followed her.

"Nice to see you again sir," called Lynx.

As she was leaving, Lady Bondar turned to me, "Welcome to Al-Raqis."

I smiled in return.

"I hope you grow to love it as we do," she added.

"Thank you," I replied.